Brain Zaps from stopping Anti-Depressants- What can I do?

MLeigh18

I've been taking 60mg of Cymbalta/day for nearly 8 months now. I've spoken with my doctor about getting off the medication, and he has approved me to get off of it. So instead of being weened off of it, I chose to try cold turkey first. Today is day 3 of no medication and the "brain zaps" are awful today. I don't know how else to describe what is happening inside my head, but it's like my entire brain twitches or something. Each "zap" is literally a split second, but they're reoccurring every minute or so for about 5-10 minutes, then it stops completely for a while, then it comes back. If you've ever taken anti-depressants and have missed a day or two you'll be familiar with this feeling.

This is a God-awful feeling. terrible! I tell you. I wouldn't wish this kind of torture on my own worst enemies.

I'm wondering if there is something that someone has tried that helps alleviate this symptom, other than starting the meds again. I've tried exercising, I rode my stationary bike last night (in an attempt to distract myself) for nearly an hour both moderately and vigorously, but it only seemed to make the symptoms worse. Does anyone have any suggestion for how to deal with this awful symptom while I wait for it to clear out of my body?

My doctor already said it'll happen and there's no way to avoid it-- but I'm wondering if there's some way to help alleviate the pain.

rps67

Is there a reason you chose to try cold turkey?

I'm all too familiar with the brain zaps as I went off anti-depressants a couple of times. The only thing that will help with the brain zaps is to wean off the anti-depressant gradually. You may have to take it REALLY slow. When I was on Effexor, I think, I had to cut down, wait a few days, cut down again, lather, rinse, repeat. It took a long time and at the end, I was on a ridiculously low dose but it was necessary for avoiding the brain zaps.

Honestly, I don't think I could have handled cold turkey. The brain zaps were enough to make me crazy as it was.

blondageh

I dear...I think the only reason I stay on those darn things is to avoid the terrible brain zaps and dizziness when I come off them. My stupid doctor makes me see her constantly to get them refilled so I am always running out of them and having to go through the brain zaps until I can get in to see her. It is so bad. I feel for you. I would NOT go cold turkey at all. I would try tapering down for sure. There is no reason to put yourself through this. There is NOTHING that is going to help you get through it. No amount of exercise, water.. etc. Sleep might, if you can literally sleep for a week, that might get you through it. Good luck.

MLeigh18

Unfortunately, the brain zaps are causing me not to sleep. I had to take 2mg of Melatonin last night to sleep. And I can't really sleep more since I already go to bed at 8:30pm and get up at 6:45am. That's plenty of sleep, sometimes too much.

NCchar130

My doctor agreed to take me off Cymbalta a few years ago and his "tapering" idea was one week at 30 mg then nothing. It was truly awful.

Here's what I ended up doing: I actually split open one of the 60 mg tabs and counted those little dots - there were about 200 dots in a capsule, if I remember correctly. And I put 180 dots back in and took that daily for a week. Then 160 the next week. Etc. I saved all the extra dots in a container to make sure I wouldn't run out and also in case I needed to slow the taper or if I chose to continue a very reduced dose for longer. I bought some empty capsules at a health food store just in case. I still had withdrawal symptoms that were unpleasant but not nearly at the level I did when stopping suddenly. (Some brain zaps, but not at the same intensity, and none of emotional roller coaster stuff).

At the point he agreed to take me off the drug, I was only taking it to prevent brain zaps, which would begin about 3 hours after a missed dose. He also got funny about calling in refills without seeing me - I went 10 days once cold turkey because I couldn't get in for 2 weeks, until I dragged my crying, hysterical, twitching self to a local urgent care where the doctor quickly wrote me the Rx. It was doing nothing for depression or nerve pain at that point anyway.

For what it's worth, I have in the past taken narcotic pain killers and anti-anxiety meds daily for up to 3 years, prescribed by my doctor, and was warned to taper off since I had undoubtedly become dependent on them. Getting off of those was a walk in the park compared to getting off of Cymbalta. I would just take some Benadryl at night to help me sleep and was good to go in a week or so.

ew_david

Benadryl for sleep? Can you get a sleep aid from your doctor if that doesn't help?

Unfortunately, it's going to happen regardless. I went off Celexa last summer and it wasn't as bad as coming off of Lexapro but it still sucked.

Eoghann

Uggh... never come off those things cold turkey (I speak from experience).

The brain zaps will taper off as the levels of serotonin in your system stabilize but it can take a while.

I strongly recommend slowly tapering off. Usually I have gone from 1 pill to a half pill to a quarter pill and then every other day before coming off.

sassyjae21

Hi there,

So sorry you are going through this. Stopping cold turkey is never a good idea with anti-depressants. The only thing you can do is get back on them, and gradually taper off, or just deal with it.

Unfortunately, I was on celexa for a while, and I tapered off WITH my doctor's help, and I still had them. I missed a lot of work because of it, and could barely drive. It probably wasn't as bad as going cold turkey though, even though I did eventually give up and just stop taking them since I was having the zaps anyway. Next to nausea, worst feeling ever.

Give it a couple of more weeks. They will go away. But because of this, I will never take another anti-depressant again.

sassyjae21

My doctor agreed to take me off Cymbalta a few years ago and his "tapering" idea was one week at 30 mg then nothing. It was truly awful.

Here's what I ended up doing: I actually split open one of the 60 mg tabs and counted those little dots - there were about 200 dots in a capsule, if I remember correctly. And I put 180 dots back in and took that daily for a week. Then 160 the next week. Etc. I saved all the extra dots in a container to make sure I wouldn't run out and also in case I needed to slow the taper or if I chose to continue a very reduced dose for longer. I bought some empty capsules at a health food store just in case. I still had withdrawal symptoms that were unpleasant but not nearly at the level I did when stopping suddenly. (Some brain zaps, but not at the same intensity, and none of emotional roller coaster stuff).

At the point he agreed to take me off the drug, I was only taking it to prevent brain zaps, which would begin about 3 hours after a missed dose. He also got funny about calling in refills without seeing me - I went 10 days once cold turkey because I couldn't get in for 2 weeks, until I dragged my crying, hysterical, twitching self to a local urgent care where the doctor quickly wrote me the Rx. It was doing nothing for depression or nerve pain at that point anyway.

For what it's worth, I have in the past taken narcotic pain killers and anti-anxiety meds daily for up to 3 years, prescribed by my doctor, and was warned to taper off since I had undoubtedly become dependent on them. Getting off of those was a walk in the park compared to getting off of Cymbalta. I would just take some Benadryl at night to help me sleep and was good to go in a week or so.

Omg that sounds terrible!! I hope you found a new Dr

quatermore

Tapering was the only way that worked for me. I shaved my pills for quite some time, then got a liquid form of my anti-depressant to ease the symptoms ( which were severe). Good luck to you.

MLeigh18

First of all, i wouldn't have to go cold turkey if they were solid pills to break in half, but they're not so that's not an option. Although I am keen on the idea of empty the pills and counting the little dots. Although that sounds like a lot of work, and a lot of focus. Neither of which I think i could handle right now due to the brain zaps.

Also, I won't take sleep medication. I've been on everything from melatonin to Ambien CR for chronic insomnia. I have several prescriptions for several different sleep aids, but I refuse to take them because I'd rather go through a sleepless night than going through a terrible drowsy day. So I'm careful about what I take to sleep, the melatonin works just fine for me when I absolutely HAVE TO HAVE something, which isn't often.

Anyway, I know we're all about fitness and health on here, and I'm 25 years old married and a high school teacher and should be living a healthy lifestyle to model to my students, which i do most of the time, but I'll be honest... I would pay some seriously cold hard cash to take a single hit off a joint right now. I dont even smoke, i haven't smoked in nearly 10 years, but for whatever reason the thought of taking one hit of pot right now sounds like the best idea. Of course, that won't happen because I'm a 25 year old married school teacher who has no freakin idea of how to get pot (I could ask my students, but I'm not that dumb.)

I'm about to slam my freakin face against the wall to make the **** stop. And there's no point in going back on Cymbalta now since I've gone 3 days without it already, going back on it would only make coming off it in the future that much harder.

_crafty_

There is no way to avoid it. Taking it slow and backing off the medication is the only way to do it "comfortably" IMO.

If they are capsules rather than solid pills that you can cut then you could have taken the capsule every other day for a time. Then every two days for a time. Then every three days and so on.

Also you could have asked your doctor for a lower dosage pill to begin the process and slowly backed it down that way.

There's more than one way to skin a cat . . .

Eoghann

I would not recommend breaking open capsules. The problem with that is that many of these things are timed release. Break open the capsule and you aren't getting the right dose over the right period of time.

I would strongly recommend talking to your doctor and asking them to prescribe a smaller dose so you can come off gradually.

MLeigh18

That's the thing, I'm on the lowest dose possible already.

NCchar130

I would not recommend breaking open capsules. The problem with that is that many of these things are timed release. Break open the capsule and you aren't getting the right dose over the right period of time.

I would strongly recommend talking to your doctor and asking them to prescribe a smaller dose so you can come off gradually.

I understand what you are saying and had the same hesitation when I did what I did to taper - my understanding was that the capsule itself was what allowed it to be released over time. OP - I used the same capsule, just with 'dots' removed. They slide open easily and then I would tightly put it back together. The empty capsules I bought were for 'just in case'.

At any rate, I had a much gentler withdrawal doing it this way since I had a 10-day cold turkey experience as well as a fast taper experience from my doctor to compare it to. (I took Cymbalta for 4 years, FWIW)

maz504

Oh darlin, my heart goes out to you. I was on 30 mg Lexapro for almost 3 years when I started weaning off, and I was ok until I started going 10 mg, 0 mg, 10 mg, 0 mg on alternating days. The brain zaps were UNBELIEVABLE. My doctor said they can switch you to a medication with a longer half-life that stays in your system so it depletes much more gradually as you wean, but to be honest I was so traumatized I've just been taking 5 mg of Lexapro every day now for several months.

It really, really sucks, because it feels like you're a prisoner to it. I've heard they eventually go away, but maybe talk to your Dr. about another medication (I've heard Prozac has a long half-life) for the interim. Don't suffer in silence!

ETA: Benadryl does help a little! It makes you sleepy but if you can manage to stay awake the brain zaps do seem to get less intense (or, they did for me) and if you can't stay up, sleep is the best escape from that crap!

dblaacker

Is there a reason you chose to try cold turkey?

I'm all too familiar with the brain zaps as I went off anti-depressants a couple of times. The only thing that will help with the brain zaps is to wean off the anti-depressant gradually. You may have to take it REALLY slow. When I was on Effexor, I think, I had to cut down, wait a few days, cut down again, lather, rinse, repeat. It took a long time and at the end, I was on a ridiculously low dose but it was necessary for avoiding the brain zaps.

Honestly, I don't think I could have handled cold turkey. The brain zaps were enough to make me crazy as it was.

This. I was on anti-anxiety pills for a while and hated them, so I cut back in the same way I began taking them. You should take half a pill every day for a week or two, then half a pill every other day for a week, and then you can increase the days between until you feel fine going without it.

FatFreeFrolicking

I've been taking 60mg of Cymbalta/day for nearly 8 months now. I've spoken with my doctor about getting off the medication, and he has approved me to get off of it. So instead of being weened off of it, I chose to try cold turkey first. Today is day 3 of no medication and the "brain zaps" are awful today. I don't know how else to describe what is happening inside my head, but it's like my entire brain twitches or something. Each "zap" is literally a split second, but they're reoccurring every minute or so for about 5-10 minutes, then it stops completely for a while, then it comes back. If you've ever taken anti-depressants and have missed a day or two you'll be familiar with this feeling.

This is a God-awful feeling. terrible! I tell you. I wouldn't wish this kind of torture on my own worst enemies.

I'm wondering if there is something that someone has tried that helps alleviate this symptom, other than starting the meds again. I've tried exercising, I rode my stationary bike last night (in an attempt to distract myself) for nearly an hour both moderately and vigorously, but it only seemed to make the symptoms worse. Does anyone have any suggestion for how to deal with this awful symptom while I wait for it to clear out of my body?

My doctor already said it'll happen and there's no way to avoid it-- but I'm wondering if there's some way to help alleviate the pain.

First of all, you should NEVER stop an anti-depressant cold turkey unless there is a real medical emergency to do so and if you are hospitalized and under constant medical supervision.

Your first mistake was coming off the drug cold turkey. Slowly weening off anti-depressants reduces the withdrawal symptoms.

There's nothing you can do for the brain zaps except wait it out.

ptsmiles

I've been taking 60mg of Cymbalta/day for nearly 8 months now. I've spoken with my doctor about getting off the medication, and he has approved me to get off of it. So instead of being weened off of it, I chose to try cold turkey first. Today is day 3 of no medication and the "brain zaps" are awful today. I don't know how else to describe what is happening inside my head, but it's like my entire brain twitches or something. Each "zap" is literally a split second, but they're reoccurring every minute or so for about 5-10 minutes, then it stops completely for a while, then it comes back. If you've ever taken anti-depressants and have missed a day or two you'll be familiar with this feeling.

This is a God-awful feeling. terrible! I tell you. I wouldn't wish this kind of torture on my own worst enemies.

I'm wondering if there is something that someone has tried that helps alleviate this symptom, other than starting the meds again. I've tried exercising, I rode my stationary bike last night (in an attempt to distract myself) for nearly an hour both moderately and vigorously, but it only seemed to make the symptoms worse. Does anyone have any suggestion for how to deal with this awful symptom while I wait for it to clear out of my body?

My doctor already said it'll happen and there's no way to avoid it-- but I'm wondering if there's some way to help alleviate the pain.

I had the same problem when I would miss a dose and when I tried to get off of Zoloft. It was a horrible feeling and when I would try and describe it to the doctors, they looked at me like I was nuts. I wish I had some advice, as I got none myself. I just dealt with it.

Lleldiranne

Benadryl for sleep? Can you get a sleep aid from your doctor if that doesn't help?

Unfortunately, it's going to happen regardless. I went off Celexa last summer and it wasn't as bad as coming off of Lexapro but it still sucked.

This has me a bit worried ... I'm currently on 10mg of Lexapro and need to start weaning off. In the next month or so, I'll be dropping to 5mg, and then probably completely off. How bad should expect it to be? :noway:

FatFreeFrolicking

First of all, i wouldn't have to go cold turkey if they were solid pills to break in half, but they're not so that's not an option. Although I am keen on the idea of empty the pills and counting the little dots. Although that sounds like a lot of work, and a lot of focus. Neither of which I think i could handle right now due to the brain zaps.

Also, I won't take sleep medication. I've been on everything from melatonin to Ambien CR for chronic insomnia. I have several prescriptions for several different sleep aids, but I refuse to take them because I'd rather go through a sleepless night than going through a terrible drowsy day. So I'm careful about what I take to sleep, the melatonin works just fine for me when I absolutely HAVE TO HAVE something, which isn't often.

Anyway, I know we're all about fitness and health on here, and I'm 25 years old married and a high school teacher and should be living a healthy lifestyle to model to my students, which i do most of the time, but I'll be honest... I would pay some seriously cold hard cash to take a single hit off a joint right now. I dont even smoke, i haven't smoked in nearly 10 years, but for whatever reason the thought of taking one hit of pot right now sounds like the best idea. Of course, that won't happen because I'm a 25 year old married school teacher who has no freakin idea of how to get pot (I could ask my students, but I'm not that dumb.)

I'm about to slam my freakin face against the wall to make the **** stop. And there's no point in going back on Cymbalta now since I've gone 3 days without it already, going back on it would only make coming off it in the future that much harder.

The fact that your doctor didn't explain to you how to come off Cymbalta is a bit frightening.

What you should be doing is calling your doctor and demanding a prescription for solid pills so that you can cut them in half.

FatFreeFrolicking

Benadryl for sleep? Can you get a sleep aid from your doctor if that doesn't help?

Unfortunately, it's going to happen regardless. I went off Celexa last summer and it wasn't as bad as coming off of Lexapro but it still sucked.

This has me a bit worried ... I'm currently on 10mg of Lexapro and need to start weaning off. In the next month or so, I'll be dropping to 5mg, and then probably completely off. How bad should expect it to be? :noway:

I've come off multiple anti-depressants… Zoloft, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Effexor, Lexapro.

I still currently take Lexapro but I have weened off of it before to try new medications. The worst withdrawal symptom was the brain zaps.

HOWEVER, 10 mg is a very very low dose and if you ween yourself off slowly, you will avoid withdrawal symptoms. SLOW is best when it comes to anti-depressants.

ew_david

Benadryl for sleep? Can you get a sleep aid from your doctor if that doesn't help?

Unfortunately, it's going to happen regardless. I went off Celexa last summer and it wasn't as bad as coming off of Lexapro but it still sucked.

This has me a bit worried ... I'm currently on 10mg of Lexapro and need to start weaning off. In the next month or so, I'll be dropping to 5mg, and then probably completely off. How bad should expect it to be? :noway:

I can't say for sure how you'll react, but I didn't really wean properly. I had pretty bad visual disturbances and zaps. I'm impatient and just wanted to be done with it so I think I weaned for about 2 weeks. Some people wean a lot longer than that.

Eoghann

Benadryl for sleep? Can you get a sleep aid from your doctor if that doesn't help?

Unfortunately, it's going to happen regardless. I went off Celexa last summer and it wasn't as bad as coming off of Lexapro but it still sucked.

This has me a bit worried ... I'm currently on 10mg of Lexapro and need to start weaning off. In the next month or so, I'll be dropping to 5mg, and then probably completely off. How bad should expect it to be? :noway:

If you do it slowly enough... potentially no side-effects at all.

But you do want to go slowly. Rather than just stopping at 5mg, you may want to move to 5mg every other day before coming off completely.

257_Lag

Uggh... never come off those things cold turkey (I speak from experience).

The brain zaps will taper off as the levels of serotonin in your system stabilize but it can take a while.

I strongly recommend slowly tapering off. Usually I have gone from 1 pill to a half pill to a quarter pill and then every other day before coming off.

QFT! (experieced)

blondageh

Wow! I am so amazed how the brain zaps are so common. Every time I mention it to my doctor (Lexapro) she just kind of nods her head and moves on. Doesn't even really acknowledge it. I want to give her a dog shock collar and see how she likes it! Seriously, I have been on this medication for 10 years, can she just write me an annual prescription already so I don't have to keep coming back? I am already looking forward to a few zappy days until I can get in to see her next month.

Sedna_51

I have had exactly the same problem when I have gaps in my SSRI supply (plus, you know, horrible crippling depression). /Please/ don't go cold turkey off these drugs, you really need to taper them so your body can gradually pick up its own production of serotonin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_discontinuation_syndrome

For what it's worth, there are a number of other drugs out there that shouldn't be stopped "cold turkey" as well, not just antidepressants- beta-blockers, epilepsy drugs, and some pain medications are other meds that should be tapered. Prednisone (steroids) are another. That's why when you get a blister pack of steroids from the doctor, it comes in automatically reducing dosages (six pills on day 1, five pills on day 2, etc).